International Retail Design Conference, Sept. 6 — 8, 2006

Plans are falling into place for the sixth International Retail Design Conference (IRDC), presented by VM+SD, set for Sept. 6–8, 2006, at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco.

IRDC has become the industry’s premier annual educational event, designed for learning and inspiration, networking and problem-sharing, motivation and insights. It’s programmed specifically for store designers, visual merchandisers, general contractors and others, at retail or contract firms, responsible for the strategizing, design, construction and maintenance of all types of retail environments.

This is a conference only, with no trade show component, although suppliers to the industry attend the event as sponsors and contribute to the overall sharing of information. IRDC is unique to our industry because it focuses on store design and visual merchandising exclusively. It’s an opportunity to see and hear about real-case design solutions to complex retail business challenges, straight from the retailers and design firms involved, and to learn more about today’s industry hot spots, such as energy efficiency, sustainable retail, global design trends, retail as a third place and more.

A special component of IRDC is the involvement of VM+SD’s Editorial Advisory Board, your peers hand-picked from the industry’s largest, most influential retail organizations and largest, most active retail design consultancies. The advisory board members attend the conference, frequently give presentations or lead discussions, contribute to content development and participate in the conference’s popular roundtable discussion format. Two networking roundtable luncheons, hosted by VM+SD editorial board members and staff, provide a forum to discuss specific issues with your peers. New this year will be Case Study Breakfasts showcasing sponsors’ solutions to specific store design problems, more general sessions and a Thursday afternoon tour of San Francisco retail.

Plus, everyone at the conference will gather for the now-legendary IRDC party, this year in the historic Tonga Room, a fixture in the San Francisco social scene for decades. The South Seas-inspired night club features an indoor pool, thunder and rainstorms, tiki huts and drinks with umbrellas.

Actual programming is being finalized, but this much is clear: As always, over the course of two-and-a-half days, attendees to the conference will hear from iconographic West Coast retailers and design firms, learn about new products and technologies and make lasting connections in a world-class setting.

For more information, visit the conference’s website at IRDC and sign up for the new IRDC E-Newsbrief, a monthly email newsletter featuring interviews with speakers, sponsor profiles and what’s happening in San Francisco. Online registration for IRDC goes live April 17. Registration is $999 and includes all sessions, breakfasts, luncheons and the IRDC party.

To become an IRDC sponsor, contact Craig Henderson at craig.henderson@stmediagroup.com.